President Donald Trump (R) is changing the federal government's approach to childhood vaccinations, and Texas Democrats are warning that the new policy could leave children more vulnerable to preventable illnesses.
Under the new policy, hepatitis B, COVID-19, and influenza vaccines are no longer recommended for all young children. Trump also directed the Justice Department to pursue legal challenges against states that violate what his administration describes as children's rights to religious or medical exemptions from vaccination.
"Separate visits for vaccines rather than giving them all in the same day," said Trump. "Very importantly, vaccinations to hepatitis B, COVID-19, and influenza, among others, are no longer recommended for all children."
The change immediately drew criticism from Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D), who argued the policy prioritizes ideology over medical science.
"More doctor's appointments, but fewer vaccines," said Doggett. "Trump's new vaccine order is a prescription for more measles and more sick children."
Doggett accused the administration of once again rejecting scientific guidance in favor of what he described as "right-wing, conspiracy theorist dogma."
The policy also puts the Trump administration at odds with states that have their own vaccination requirements and exemption policies. Trump's order directs the attorney general to pursue legal challenges against states that the administration believes violate religious or medical exemption rights.
The debate comes as other Texas Democrats continue criticizing the administration over its treatment of children.
Rep. Greg Casar (D) recently highlighted children he said had been denied medical care amid the administration's immigration enforcement efforts.
"I was talking to kids who were just begging for medical care that they had been denied for nearly a year," said Casar. "Children are being denied medical care in the United States of America."
While Casar's comments were not directly about the vaccine policy, they add to a broader Democratic criticism that children are bearing the consequences of Trump administration policies.
The vaccine changes are now setting up another fight over the role of federal health recommendations, state authority and parents' rights, with Democrats warning about public health consequences and the Trump administration arguing for greater flexibility around vaccination requirements and exemptions.
